Sergei Kravtsov welcomed participants in the Young Journalists School of the National Centre RUSSIA
How does the press office team of a Russian ministry work? What is the difference between internal and external content? What shapes the information space? Young journalists of the National Centre RUSSIA looked for answers to these and other questions during a tour of the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation. The participants spoke with representatives of the education sector, learned the secrets of their work, asked the speakers questions and wrote down every word.
The material was prepared by Nicole Roshka, a participant in the Young Journalists School.
Minister of Education of the Russian Federation Sergei Kravtsov met with the young journalists. He noted that the media are called the fourth estate, and that the participants have an opportunity to contribute to the development of Russian journalism.
"Today, you are here to learn the basics of a profession on which the truthfulness and substance of the country’s information space depend. It is proactive, talented and courageous young people like you who are capable of creating high-quality, interesting content, countering fakes and bringing the truth to people. You are taught by renowned educators and masters: experienced journalists, editors and bloggers. I am sure that today more than one secret of the professional skill of a true journalist will be revealed. Remember that journalism is not just a profession, but a calling. It requires honesty, responsibility and love for your country," Sergei Kravtsov said, addressing the kids.
During the tour, the young journalists saw that the Ministry of Education is not only about developing state policy and regulating the education system, but also about the daily, large-scale work of the press office team, which ensures the ministry’s openness and reports on key events. One difficult task is adapting materials for completely different audiences, from teenagers to teachers. The young journalists adopted the experts’ experience and learned how to create a news hook that instantly spreads across all media outlets.
The participants visited the TV studio where interviews and exclusive film screenings are held, and saw the room with bookshelves from which Sergei Kravtsov records his congratulatory addresses. The press office staff shared a small professional secret with the young journalists: the books on these shelves are props. The reason is that during filming, the gold embossing on the spines of real books creates strong glare in the frame, so decorative copies are used in the studio.
The participants were also able to speak with Deputy Minister of Education of the Russian Federation Andrei Nikolayev. The young journalists were able to ask questions that interested them: about economics through the eyes of a school student, his favourite book and the influence of neural networks on the educational process.
"To doubt is impossible to act" — where should the comma go? The meeting with Marina Zakharova, Head of the Media Communications Directorate of the Centre for Educational Initiatives of the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation, began with this very question. According to her, a journalist must doubt, because this is what helps check facts and achieve accuracy. She said that when she began working at the Ministry of Education, her favourite word became "approval". After a press release, news item or interview is prepared, one of the most important stages begins: checking and approving materials. This approach makes it possible to eliminate inaccuracies, which are unacceptable in the work of a press office. These are the very principles followed by participants in the Young Journalists School project.
"If you have made something up or taken it out of context, people will read you and believe you, because you are a journalist. So always think for the future about what you are bringing into the outside world. This is very important and serious work. The law on mass media should become your handbook, as it sets out all your rights and responsibilities," Marina Zakharova said in her words of guidance.
The young journalists were also told about the formula for success: "GOL". These are the main functions of a good journalist. G stands for flexibility (gibkost'), O for responsibility (otvetstvennost') and L for curiosity (luboznatelnost'). The participants saw that it is also about the energy of the team, sincere interest and the courage to be yourself.
After a large body of theory, the aspiring specialists moved on to practice: they divided into groups and tried on the role of a press office team, where everyone works in a coordinated way. At the media centre, under the guidance of experienced journalists, the participants interviewed ministry staff, recorded stand-ups for news programmes, prepared a press release and filmed a report.
"I was surprised that the children came absolutely prepared. They really are professionals. They know that they need to film with a lapel microphone, use stabilisers, shoot on a mobile phone, edit and record soundbites. I really liked that the participants asked the right questions. Of course, they do not yet have much experience, but everything is still ahead of them. Their eyes are shining, and they are purposefully moving towards their goal of becoming first-class journalists," shared Yulia Malyshevskaya, Deputy Head of the Regional Development Department of the Federal State Autonomous Institution "Centre for Educational Initiatives" of the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation.
The tour of the Ministry became one of the brightest events of the Young Journalists School project. A dream came true for many of the participants, and each found something special for themselves: a reference point for their future path in media. The young journalists received a powerful impulse ahead of their upcoming assessment and their challenging path in the profession.
"This is the most long-awaited trip of the entire period of study at the Young Journalists School. I could not even have imagined visiting the Ministry of Education. With every trip like this, I understand what opportunities are opening up for me. Today, I looked at everything through the lens of a camera, and the brightest moment was the appearance of Minister Sergei Sergeyevich Kravtsov. The treats and gifts prepared by the ministry were also pleasant impressions. It was very interesting to listen to advice from top speakers. With every event like this, I understand more and more that I want to become a journalist," shared project participant Abdulla Magomedov.
Young journalist Sofia Fokina noted that the Ministry of Education became for her not only a place of knowledge, but also a space filled with the right meanings. She said that leading speakers from the media sphere shared their experience, including victories and failures, which is especially important for aspiring specialists. She added that each time she becomes more convinced that they are a large and close-knit team.
The Young Journalists School is a project of the National Centre RUSSIA and the Movement of the First. It is implemented with the support of the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation. The programme helps teenagers get acquainted with leading Russian media, develop practical skills in working with information, text, photo and video, analyse events and create materials ready for publication.
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